Flushing, N.Y., April 24, 2013 — New York Hospital
Queens (NYHQ) celebrated Earth Day by hosting a fair that showcased the
hospital’s green initiatives that benefit the community, patients and
the bottom line. These green initiatives helped NYHQ meet Mayor
Bloomberg’s challenge to area hospitals, universities and businesses to
reduce overall carbon emissions by 30 percent over ten years. Last week,
the Mayor announced that NYHQ is the first participating hospital to
meet and exceed his challenge by reducing emissions by 31 percent in
only two years.

“Our goal is to reduce the hospital’s environmental impact and support
the health and well-being of our patients and our community,” said Kevin
Mannle, associate vice president, Facilities Management, NYHQ.
“Participating in the Mayor’s challenge encouraged the hospital to
accelerate our green program and we are proud to have met this
challenge. NYHQ is continuously committed to sustaining the environment
through expanding our green initiatives.”

Several initiatives featured at the Earth Day Fair helped NYHQ meet the
Mayor’s challenge and save the hospital approximately $2.5 million each
year:
• Replaced a gas fired absorption chiller with a high
efficiency electric chiller
• Replaced a large oil-burning boiler plant with a new boiler
plant that burns natural gas
• Retro-commissioned a 30-year-old air handling unit which
now uses 25 percent less energy while supplying more air
• Computerized controls to reduce energy consumption from
heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment
• Implemented controls to turn off lights in commercial
buildings when not being utilized
• Built all new construction to higher efficiency standards
• Launched an internal education campaign to encourage more energy
efficient practices

NYHQ also implemented a recycling program. Now,
• Regulated medical waste accounts for less than 5 percent of all
waste
• More than 17 percent of all waste is recycled
• More than 21 percent of hospital waste is diverted from
traditional municipal waste streams
• A bio digester, an organic waste decomposition system,
processes 400 lbs. of food waste per day (about 4% of the hospital’s
total waste stream)

One of the latest projects underway is the installation of more than
20,000 square feet of modular green roof on the hospital's main campus.
In partnership with Manhattan College, this project was created to
decrease the amount of storm water and sewer overflow into adjacent
waterways. To learn more about NYHQ’s green initiatives, visit
www.nyhq.org/gogreen.

New York Hospital Queens is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian
Healthcare System and is affiliated with Weill Medical College of
Cornell University. For more information on New York Hospital Queens,
visit www.nyhq.org.

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NYHQ is an Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense partner and
promotes water conservation throughout the hospital’s facilities. The
West Building of NYHQ is fitted with low flow water fixtures to help
conservation efforts.